[The following statistical references reflect percentages relative to the number of responses received for each question. For comments, if the same basic comment was given by multiple sites, the number of responses are given in parenthesis.]

1. How satisfied are you with the way WSR-88D dial communication
access (i.e., requests for dial access to specific RPG(s)) is administered?

NWS

AWS

NAVY/MC

CWSU

SATISFIED

57%

61%

75%

N/A

SOMEWHAT SATISFIED

28%

32%

19%

N/A

SOMEWHAT DISSATISFIED

9%

7%

6%

N/A

DISSATISFIED

5%

0%

0%

N/A

Field Recommendations:

NWS

Allow access availability on event basis (6)

Remove Regions from process to speed up access requests (3)

Speed up processing of access requests (2)

Need improved access to neighboring sites (2)

Had to wait 10 months for Region to implement access request (2)

Increase number of dial ports

Would like scheduled NBComm Authorized User List updates

Decrease number of sites accessed

AWS

Would like to be able to add/delete access on an as-needed basis through the Hotline, without having to wait to get a hold of AWS HQ (3)

6. Approximately how long (in minutes) do your dial out user functions typically remain connected to the RPG port?

NWS

AWS

NAVY/MC

CWSU

AVERAGE (minutes)

2.0*

2.3

2.4

2.0

How many products are typically requested?

NWS

AWS

NAVY/MC

CWSU

AVERAGE

7.4*

4.4

3.6

4.5

* CAUTION! Several sites indicated that they request increased numbers of products with severe weather! That equates to longer a connection time, often in a shorter VCP (i.e., VCP 11 only 5 mins.)

ALSO - 8 NWS, and 3 AWS sites indicated they run Looping-Dial User Functions that stay connected to the dialed RPG for the length of the event. I did not count these responses as I (hope) believe they mis-interpreted the question. I hope they meant that the UF runs for the duration of the event, but that they exit out of the connection somewhere around the average connect time shown above.

7. Are you satisfied with the assistance you have received from the WSR-88D Hotline for narrowband communication problems?

NWS

AWS

NAVY/MC

CWSU

YES

100%

76%

94%

90%

NO

0%

0%

0%

0%

HAVE NEVER CALLED

0%

24%

6%

10%

What changes would you like to see in the handling of narrowband communication problems by the Hotline?

Comments:

NWS

(4) Hotline should send out "bulletin" notifying everyone when a RPG is down

Need a Communication Documentation Notebook

Hotline should periodically issue a document consolidating "history" of comms problems and their resolutions

They have assisted in resolving immediate problems but have not provided a lasting solution

AWS -- No comments

Navy/MC -- Hotline should send out "bulletin" notifying everyone when a RPG is down

FAA/CWSU -- Would like to see Hotline more knowledgeable about Alaska SatCom problems and have the Hotline perform System Status Monitoring of Alaska systems

8. Does your site want the WSR-88D Hotline to proactively monitor CONUS RPG dial communication ports in order to identify and troubleshoot communication outages?

NWS

AWS

NAVY/MC

CWSU

YES

76%

60%

75%

80%

NO

17%

28%

12%

20%

DON'T UNDERSTAND

7%

12%

13%

0%

9. [CONUS NWS and AWS sites only.] If your site has used the Sprint help desk for a WSR-88D telecommunications problem, how satisfied are you with the service you received from Sprint?

NWS

AWS

COMPLETELY

23%

14%

SOMEWHAT

15%

31%

DISSATISFIED

8%

8%

NEVER USED IT

46%

44%

NEVER HEARD OF IT

8%

6%

Comments on experiences with Sprint service:

NWS

Slow response by Sprint technicians

Sprint has repeatedly told us that our persistent "LINE NOISY" messages are not their problem

Site ET indicates that Sprint technicians are not very knowledgeable

Recently lost all comms for 3 days - Sprint changed our circuit Ids and then they could not figure out what happened

Recently took Sprint over 2 days to identify and fix our line problem

Need guidance explaining how to obtain better Sprint service

AWS

Problem with dedicated line on bad weather days (3)

Sprint response time is to slow (2)

Sprint hotline operators act like they don't know they provide our service

Sprint shows no inclination to be proactive in maintaining my dedicated line, they treat us like we are any other business contract and do not appreciate the urgency of our weather data. On bad weather days our dedicated line goes up and down as often as 15 times a day - Need administrative pressure put on Sprint to improve my line quality

Have had much improved line performance last 18 months

Have found their service inconsistent

Have Sprint service up to base demarc, AT&T service from demarc to weather office. Often Sprint and AT&T try to pass the buck on who is responsible, resulting in long duration outages, especially on UCP link

Our dial line was recently inoperative for over six months

10. [FAA, Navy, Marine, COE, and OCONUS sites only] How satisfied are you with the service you receive for your WSR-88D communication problems? [N/A = No Responses]

NWS

AWS

NAVY/MC

CWSU

COMPLETELY

N/A

N/A

69%

14%

SOMEWHAT

N/A

N/A

25%

57%

DISSATISFIED

N/A

N/A

6%

0%

NOT SURE

N/A

N/A

0%

28%

Comments:

NWS -- A lot of problems with FAA Alaskan sites

AWS -- No comments

Navy/MC

Have trouble resolving line problems because must go through base comms-to commercial Telco-to FAA managed RPG-to in house technicians

Continuous problem with our dedicated line

Cannot dial out on DSN during daylight hours because of line traffic

FAA/CWSU -- No comments

11. How many times each week does your PUP's dedicated line typically lose connection with your associated RPG excluding system reboots or other self-initiated causes)?

NWS

AWS

NAVY/MC

CWSU

AVERAGE PER WEEK

1

2.4

2.1

1.9

12. How often does your office perform PUP VME resets (actually pressing the white RESET button on the VME panel) as a result of FAIL lights being lit on the VME panel?

NWS

AWS

NAVY/MC

CWSU

Infrequently

80%

88%

100%

100%

Monthly

11%

5%

Weekly

8%

5%

Daily

0%

2%

13. How often does your office perform "CDS" reboots (i.e. "PO OFF/ON" or "HA/INIT" from the "CDS>" prompt) of the PUP for the purpose of restoring communications problems?

NWS

AWS

NAVY/MC

CWSU

Infrequently

53%

60%

59%

70%

Monthly

29%

24%

18%

20%

Weekly

18%

14%

18%

10%

Daily

0%

2%

5%

0%

14. What areas of WSR-88D telecommunications would your office like to see better addressed